Aggressive Mute Swans Found in the Port Credit area of Mississauga.
The Mute Swan is a very common sight along the Lake Ontario shoreline of Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga and Toronto. This swan is not native to Ontario. It was introduced accidentally when Europeans brought breeding pairs over to stock the ponds of large country estates in the USA in the 1800s. The first breeding pair of Mute Swans in Ontario was seen in 1958 and since that time their population has increased greatly, often displacing the native waterfowl of Ontario.
Since their introduction, the Mute Swan has spread far and wide. They can be distinguished from our native swan, the Trumpeter Swan by their orange bills. Trumpeter Swans have black bills and having nearly disappeared from Ontario, are rarely seen.
The Mute Swan is a large bird with males often reaching 27 lbs. 
They are highly territorial and will often viciously attack and kill any animals or birds they see as a threat to their territory.
Recently, when spending a quiet evening on the boat in Port Credit, we witnessed a very violent attack by a pair of Mute Swans. One of the Mute Swans was on top of another Mute Swan with it's neck grasped firmly in it's beak.
It repeatedly tried to bash the weaker swan's head against the rocks and when this didn't seem to be working, it opted for trying to drown the swan by holding it's head under water.
The attack went on for many minutes while another swan looked on.
Mute Swans are very strong and they are capable of breaking the bones of a human by hitting with their wings.
They have been witnessed killing ducklings, seagulls, geese and any other creatures that come within too close of range.
Please don't let your children get too close to any Mute Swans (look for the orange bills) along the Lake Ontario shoreline of Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga or Toronto. Although very beautiful, they are a wild creature and can be very aggressive and dangerous to anyone or thing they deem a threat.
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